SPEECH BY THE HONORABLE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE MR JABULANI MABUZA DURING THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF LUGONGODLANE DIPS TANK NO: 019 IN THE HHOHHO REGION UNDER MAYIWANE SUB STATION ON THE 25THOF JULY 2019.

 

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR

YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESSES

CHIEFS

REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR OF HHOHHO REGION

HONORABLE MEMBER(S) OF PARLIAMENT

INDVUNA YENKUNDLA

INKHUNDLA COUNCIL

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

REPRESENTATIVES FROM MICRO PROJECTS

REPRESENTATIVES OF MEDIA HOUSES

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

GREETINGS TO EVERYONE. IT IS A GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THIS IMPORTANT EVENT HERE AT MAYIWANE FOR THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF LUGONGODLWANE DIPPING TANK NO:019 UNDER HHOHHO REGION. I ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATE THE PRESENCE OF ALL OF YOU IN THIS IMPORTANT GATHERING. SUCH FUNCTIONS LIKE THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR GOVERNMENT FOR HER GENEROSITY AND KINDNESS IN IMPROVING THE LIVES OF EMASWATI IN VARIOUS WAYS, IN PARTICULAR THOSE IN RURAL AREAS.  I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT TODAY’S WORK HAS BEEN THROUGH THE INITIATIVE OF THE LIVESTOCK OWNERS HERE AT LUGONGODLWANE DIPPING TANK.

MICRO PROJECTS

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IT IS INDEED PLEASING TO LEARN THAT THIS BEAUTIFUL AND IMPORTANT FACILITY HAS COME INTO EXISTENCE WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM MICRO PROJECT WHICH CONTRIBUTED A SUM OF E 266 536 THOUSANDS. WE CONGRATULATE MAYIWANE INKHUNDLA FOR HAVING BENEFITTED FROM THESE FUNDS DESIGNATED TO BRING DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMUNITIES.  IN THIS REGARD WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO MICRO PROJECT AND WE HOPE THAT AS LONG AS YOUR OFFICE STILL EXISTS, THE COOPERATION WE ARE ENJOYING WILL BE STRENGTHENED.

COOPERATION BY LIVESTOCK OWNERS

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AT THIS JUNCTURE I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE LIVESTOCK OWNERS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT, CONTRIBUTION AND COOPERATION THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT.  I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT 116 LIVESTOCK OWNERS CONTRIBUTED A SUM OF E140.00 EACH, TOWARDS THE PROJECT.  I HAVE BEEN FURTHER INFORMED THAT THE WORK OF CONSTRUCTING THE DIP TANK ONLY TOOK TWO MONTHS AS IT STARTED IN FEBRUARY 2017 AND WAS COMPLETED ON 27 MARCH 2017. THIS SHOWS GREAT COMMITMENT ON THEIR PART AND IS AN INDICATION THAT THEY REALLY NEED THE FACILITY.

PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF ANIMAL DISEASES

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE FACILITY IS THE PREVENTION, CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF ANIMAL AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES. THEREFORE, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BRING YOUR ANIMALS FOR INSPECTION HERE AT THE DIPPING TANK ON THE SCHEDULED DAYS SO THAT ANY ILL HEALTH IN THE LIVESTOCK MAY BE DETECTED EARLY. YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT FAILURE TO BRING YOUR LIVESTOCK HERE WARRANTS PROSECUTION.

LET ME ALSO ENCOURAGE EVERY LIVESTOCK OWNER TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR LIVESTOCK STAY FREE FROM ANIMAL DISEASES BY MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE TIMEOUSLY VACCINATED AND TO REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS SYMPTOMS IN YOUR LIVESTOCK TO VETERINARY OFFICIALS SO THAT YOU MAY BE ADVISED ACCORDINGLY.  

 

LIVESTOCK IDENTIFICATION

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ACCORDING TO THE LIVESTOCK IDENTIFICATION ACT 2001 (ACT NO: 13 OF 2001) IT IS MANDATORY THAT ALL CATTLE IN THE COUNTRY SHOULD HAVE A BRAND MARK AND AN EAR TAG TO PROVIDE OWNERSHIP INFORMATION FOR TRACEABILITY PURPOSES, AS SUCH CALVES ARE EXPECTED TO BE  EAR TAGGED  NOT LATER THAN FOUR (4) WEEKS FROM BIRTH.  FARMERS ARE THEREFORE URGED TO TAG THEIR CALVES AT THE STIPULATED AGE. DIPPING TANK COMMITTEES ARE REQUESTED TO WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE VETERINARY OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT ALL ANIMALS IN THEIR DIPPING TANKS ARE EAR TAGGED ON TIME.

UNCONTROLLED FIRES

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ON ANOTHER NOTE I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT EMASWATI CONTINUE TO LITERALLY PLAY WITH FIRE. DESPITE GOVERNMENTS WARNING THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD AVOID VELD FIRES AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR BECAUSE IT IS DRY AND WINDY.

 MAY I AGAIN APPEAL TO THE NATION TO IMMEDIATELY STOP BURNING, AT LEAST UNTIL THE COUNTRY RECEIVES THE FIRST RAINS OF THE COMING SEASON. EVEN THEN, IT IS ADVISABLE THAT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BURN AROUND HIS HOME MUST SEEK PERMISSION FROM THE MINISTRY AND FURTHER NOTIFY HIS /HER NEIGHBORS ABOUT HIS INTENTION SO THAT HE /SHE MAY BE ASSISTED ACCORDINGLY.  

 

GOAT COMMERCIALIZATION

THESE DAYS THE MINISTRY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING ESWADE AND PRIVATE SECTOR, IS PROMOTING THE PRODUCTION OF GOAT. GOAT PRODUCTION REMAINS THE LEAST DEVELOPED VALUE CHAIN YET GOATS ARE EASY TO PRODUCE AND ARE QUICKER TO GROW TO MARKET SIZE. THE MORE GOATS ONE SELLS THE MORE MONEY ONE MAKES AND THAT IS COMMERCIALIZATION.

VARIOUS STUDIES BY THE MINISTRY HAVE INDICATED THAT OUR GOATS HAVE BECOME SMALLER (STUNTED) DUE TO INBREEDING AND ALSO THE KIDS (EMAZINYANE) DIE OF DISEASES, PARTICULARLY WORMS. IT IS IN THIS REGARD THAT THE MINISTRY HAS DEVELOPED A PROGRAM THAT ENTAILS THREE INTERVENTIONS

  1. ANNUAL EXCHANGE OF BUCKS (TIWEWE) TO GET NEW BLOOD AND AVOID INBREEDING
  2. VACCINATION PROGRAM AND DEWORMING PROGRAM FOR THE GOAT KIDS. THE SYSTEM USED FOR VACCINATION IS CALLED THE FAMACHA SYSTEM.
  3. FINISHING OR FEEDLOTING FOR UP TO 30 DAYS. THE MARKET WANTS GOOD QUALITY MEAT AND FEEDING THE GOATS FOR 30 DAYS IS ENOUGH TO IMPROVE THEIR CONDITION.

THE MINISTRY AND PRIVATE SECTOR ARE CONDUCTING WORKSHOPS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO EMPOWER YOU, OUR FARMERS. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ATTEND THESE WORKSHOPS.

  • AUGUST IS DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTION OF LIVESTOCK CENSUS. YOU ARE REQUESTED TO COOPERATE WITH THE MINISTRY’S OFFICIALS DURING THIS EXERCISE. PLEASE PROVIDE ACCURATE FIGURES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COUNTRY.
  • IN SEPTEMBER GOVERNMENT WILL CONDUCT THE ANNUAL RABIES VACCINATION CAMPAIGN. THE VACCINE IS ALREADY AVAILABLE AND THE MINISTRY IS WORKING ON THE LOGISTICS OF DELIVERING THE VACCINE. AGAIN EVERY DOG OWNER IS REQUESTED TO AVAIL HIS DOGS FOR VACCINATION. THE GLOBAL RABIES ELIMINATION GOAL IS ‘ZERO CASES OF DOG MEDIATED RABIES BY 2030’. HOWEVER FOR ESWATINI THE TARGET IS ZERO BY 2022 PLEASE.

 

CONCLUSION

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IN CONSIDERING ALL WHAT I HAVE SAID MAY I AT THIS JUNCTURE  PASS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE DIP TANK COMMITTEE AND LIVESTOCK OWNERS FOR A MAGNIFICENT WORK DONE, WITHOUT THEM THIS DAY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A SUCCESS. I, THEREFORE, SALUTE THEM FOR THE JOB WELL DONE.

HAVING SAID THAT MAY I APPEAL TO THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS FACILITY IS WELL KEPT AND WELL LOOKED AFTER SO THAT IT MAY LAST LONG AND BE USED BY GENERATIONS TO COME.

IT IS NOW MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO DECLARE THAT LUGONGODLWANE DIPPING TANK NO: 019 IS NOW OFFICIALLY OPENED.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU!

EXTRA INFORMATION

POPULATION FOR OTHER STOCK

SPECIES

NO, OF OWNERS

TOTAL NO, OF STOCK

CATTLE

76

880

GOATS

39

428

SHEEP

1

4

DONKEYS

0

0

HORSES

0

0

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